We are applauding Atlanta-native Antoinette Tuff for being a hero today!

Just eight months after the horrifying Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, a similar incident almost took place in Georgia, but was prevented because of Antoinette’s willingness to empathize with the gunman.

On Tuesday, she was sitting at the secretary’s desk in the front office of Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy when 20-year-old Michael Brandon Hill walked straight into the elementary school, dressed in all black and carrying an AK-47. He immediately fired off a few rounds in the office and told the staff that he was about to end the lives of students and teachers in the building since he didn’t have anything else to live for.

Somehow or another, Antoinette was able to change the gunman’s mind. Although she was terrified, she talked to him for an hour about her own struggles that she was going through and even told him that she loved him. Eventually, she was able to convince him to empty his pockets and lie down so that the police could arrest him. No one was injured or hurt.

Catch a few highlights from Antoinette’s interview with the local news below:

On How He Got Into the School
Normally, it’s a buzzer and there’s a camera there and we buzz them in, but he came immediately after the parent before the parent closed the door.[…]By the time he came to me he had already had the gun drawn. He got there around 12:45 and [he was there until] two. [He was there] for a minute.

That’s not normally my seat, but I was actually sitting relieving the secretary. When he came in the door, he came in the door with the gun drawn. He said, ‘I’m not playing. This is for real. This is not a show. This is not a joke.’ He told the teacher to go let everybody know this is not a joke.

On How He Looked
He had a look on him that he was ready to kill. Matter of fact, he said it. He said that he didn’t have any reason to live and that he knew he was going to die today. He tried to go out the door where the kids was, and I called him back and kept talking to him to keep him calm and stay inside with me. I knew that if he got outside he was going to start shooting kids. He had already shot a round off in the office with me and had been outside shooting at the police, so I knew that he was unstable enough to start shooting at everybody.

On what she said to him
I just started telling him my story and everything I had been going through and how my life began to turn for me last year and how rough it was for me and how I just felt at my low and that nobody loved me. How I had a multiple disabled child and a daughter who was in college and about to go to law school and just lost my husband after 33 years and that’s the only man that I knew since I was 13-years-old. I said, ‘Look at me. I’m still living.’ I explained to him that I just opened up a brand new business. A motor coach company and a travel agency. I’m getting back out there so it’s alright. Life will still bring about turns and we can learn from it in spite of what it looks like. He then opened up to me and said he didn’t take his medicine and that he was sick and that he knew that it was going to end for him because he had already at that time started shooting at the police officers. I told him no that was not so. He still had an opportunity. He didn’t kill anybody. He didn’t shoot me. I would allow them to know that he didn’t do anybody any harm.

On If The Students Were Evacuating During Their Conversation
He told me to get on the intercom to let everybody know that he wasn’t playing and that this was an emergency. So I got on the intercom and I told everybody to lock down the kids because at that time he started getting agitated because he started seeing some other people moving so he started getting agitated. He told me to get on the intercom and tell them nobody leaves the building, nobody leaves the classroom, tell the police to back off.[…]I started communicating to him and to the police and to Channel 2 News to try and talk him down and calm him down to let him know that I understand how he was feeling.

On What She Was Thinking When She Was Talking to Him
My pastor just started this teaching on anchoring and how you anchor yourself in the Lord. I just sat there and started praying. I just remember what he taught us as members of the church of how to consult people when they’re bereaving so I realized at that time that it was bigger than me. He was really a hurting young man, so I just started praying for him and just started talking to him, letting him know some of my life stories and what was going on with me and that it was going to be okay.

At one point Hill called one of his family members and had a tearful conversation before he finally decided to give himself up to the police. Antoinette had him put everything he had on a table and lay down on the floor.

“I told him to put [his gun] on the table [and] empty his pockets. He brought a gun bag, a book bag, a bag full of ammunition, a bag full of magazine clips. Even a bottle of water. He put it all down on the counter. I told him to lay on the floor and he said okay, tell them that I’m on the floor. It was taking the police a minute to come because I was telling them what I was telling him to do so they could hear.

On Why She Thought He Listened to Her
“I have no idea. That wasn’t nobody but God. I can’t even put that on myself. I was praying hard. I don’t even know what made him just decide to listen to me because when he first came in he wasn’t. He wouldn’t even tell me his name. His name ended up being my mother’s maiden name. I said, ‘Oh we could be family members.” He said, “Oh. You know I’ve been here before [where I’m from].’ I said, ‘When did you come?’ and he said, ‘I came with the band and I played.’ I’m gonna be honest with you. I don’t remember that band and I don’t remember him playing, but I acted like I did that day. That’s when he started opening up and telling me he hadn’t taken his medication and that he was sorry. He had me actually get on the intercom and tell everybody he was sorry, too.”

On Being a Hero
“I give it all to God, I’m not the hero. I was terrified.”

On If She’ll Be at Work Tomorrow
Yeah, I’ll probably be there. Nothing like the babies. That’s the whole purpose of my opening my own business, so I can give back to the children.[…]I’ll be back sitting in that same seat blessing the next person.

Talking to ABC News, Antoinette said, “I just explained to him that I loved him. I didn’t know his name, I didn’t know much about him, but I did love him.”
Watch Antoinette’s full interview below:

The gunman faces charges of assault against an officer, making threats, and illegally possessing a firearm.

Also the 911 call has surfaced online. Although it’s 24 minutes, it really shows how brave this lady was. At the 14 minute mark she talks to him about her husband and her son that’s disable.

Can’t help but be awed… Lord knows i would’ve pissed myself the VERY MOMENT i laid eyes on that AK-47 so I know he WON’T place me in such a position… *side-eye*

And though she admits to being terrified, she was brave, humble and giving praises to the Most High ’till the very end! Big ups Empress! Heart of a Lioness!

On a Serious Note: Guess this is what happens when you allow yourself to have a beautiful and tightly-knit relationship with God.

+30Deja Reply:August 22nd, 2013 at 3:08 pm

The Lord God was really working that day… Geezum!! I am so happy this story ended the way it did.

Look at that, that man did not take his meds… mental illness is NO JOKE OUT HERE and I am just so frazzled at how the government are not looking into ways to assist these people. a friend of mine has a brother who refuses to take his medication because he is of legal age, but I fear the day that she will get that phone call of him either hurting himself or someone else… like I don’t understand why the laws are in place that if people with mental illness do not HAVE to take medication, especially when they have harmed themselves or other people… I don’t get it!

*sigh* In any event, Prayer WORKS. Can’t no one tell me different. The amount of times I have been saved by GOD whether it was a life changing event or just plain ole escaping the belt from my parents… GOD has been there and worked magic every time… lol.

I’m just here like “WOW”. I applaud this woman for having the courage to stand their and allow her tongue to speak God’s will. I am sure that was God directing her words. She said the entire time she was praying. I can only imagine he knew what that child needed to hear and used her as an “intercom”.

Initially, I wasn’t going to even click this post but I said why not. I’m glad I did.

America really needs to do something about its gun laws, man! They think “if we ignore it, it will go away” well guess what? It will not and it’s about time we addressed it in its entirety. I’m not saying take away the guns but damn fix this system.

They better act now before GOD does their job for him and we ALL know the power God has and he will not hesitate to use it!

God Bless Antoinette & the gunman! I wish people all over the world would do what Antoinette did in our everyday lives. She revealed her innermost self to this boy and profoundly touched him. She made him feel like he wasn’t alone, that he was loved, and important. Everybody just wants to be loved and valued. It’s important to connect with people before they even reach their breaking point(s) and do stuff like murder or commit suicide. Just my idealistic thoughts.

Too Trill Too Reply:August 24th, 2013 at 3:16 am

I have chills. I pray to have the courage she did, everyday. May God’s Holy Spirit be with each one of us. Black people are amazing.

+49KaraKo Reply:August 22nd, 2013 at 2:24 pm

I’m not sure why but I’m balling so hard. Haven’t cried in a while too. *sighs*

Aww dont know why people will thumb you down. But here is a hug** Its quite simply you have been holding some stuff inside and the amazing grace and love that this woman exuded is just so overwhelmingly warm and one cannot help but feel like she is talking to all of us.
Such compassion.

+9Satin Reply:August 22nd, 2013 at 3:28 pm

I cried too! My face was so hot lol!

+7Hey girl hey Reply:August 22nd, 2013 at 4:36 pm

I’m in tears. God bless her.

+10bellabeautiful Reply:August 22nd, 2013 at 8:18 pm

Honestly.At 19 Ive been going through alot lately financially emotionally and with my relationships friends family and males for some reason this story and this womans faith in god has inspired me to restore my faith in the lord. God bless her and i wish her the best. God bless that man too because honestly you never know the hardships people go through, this thing called life is tough but no matter what god has your back . Something i just realized. sorry for my paragraph.

+3UNCLE SLAYLORIS Reply:August 22nd, 2013 at 9:15 pm

God bless and keep u, Bella.

+14EliteNavi Reply:August 22nd, 2013 at 2:41 pm

Hallelujah! My butt would have been under a desk praying he didnt find me. That lady is blessed and a blessing to others. Im glad no one was hurt.

Back when her husband of 33years divorced her and left her with a child that hasmultiple disabilities she felt worthless herself and thought about commiting suicide. Its amazing that her test became a testimony to someone else and it helped save lives. She has shown us today that people may make us feel worthless but God will make us into heroes. She certainly was worth something to the -parents who hugged their kids as they walked out of the buses as the crises dissolved. And she was worth something to the gunmen. And now she is worth something to all americans.
I wonder what the ex-husband must be thinking right now

Mmhh i dont think this idiot was really going to shoot anybody anyway.. None of the school shooters come in like ‘this is no joke, im going to kill you all’. They normally just shoot the first person they see in the heac.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT ANYONE IS CAPABLE OF! Foh but if that was your Child in school and you heard of this would you still feel like this?! Man my son is in Daycare 3rd week & I swear this si my BIGGEST fear someone walking up in their and doing this! I pray every day for everyone in his school’s safety because you never know their are SICKOSSSS out here! smh I shed teard reading this cuz their really is a God and this woman was a blessing to everyone !!

@Tld… Do you realize he’s on MEDS??? This is no SANE individual!!
How you gonna psycho-analyze a madman based on previously exercised strategies from similar incidents?! Is there some law that dictates that it MUST happen in a similar manner?

You brought up a good point….he came into the building making verbal threats? We need to be thankful that he wasn’t as committed to the act, to just shoot first and kill himself. This woman was phenomenal in the way that she handled this gunman. To remain so calm with your life and the life of hundreds of children/teachers, is such an extreme pressure to operate under. That community owes that woman a multitude of gratitude. I’m not even deeply religious, and she moved me to tears w/ her testimony.

THIS is a beautiful black women, but that’s just a side note. There needs to be an uproar of applause of how that woman talked that man out of harming those children. She is a hero. Not to be negative but lets see if she gets as much spot light as Charles Ramsey did for saving Amanda Berry. #BlackPowerIsForBlackMen IJS

Ms. Tuff’s school: Church going, family members outside holding hands PRAYING,….black women are powerful and can sell the devil fire…look at the civil rights movement, look at the ending of slavery…..The mentally ill and unstable have NO POWER AGAINST A BLACK GODLY WOMAN ON A MISSION!!!!!

Side note: I always wondered what would happen if one of those shooters came across a black woman- NOW I KNOW!!!! Thank you GOD. Praise HIM!!!

So God offed a bunch of kids just because of the environment they lived in? I’m Christian, and that’s the stupidest **** I’ve ever heard.

SpirytSista Reply:August 26th, 2013 at 3:27 pm

I’m a Christian, and I’m disugusted, that you would say something like that. As a true Christian you should not be racializing and politicizing everything. So those kids were killed b/c they were in a supposedly Republican environment? I’m disgusted

+18lisa Reply:August 22nd, 2013 at 2:19 pm

or that He doesn’t have plans for your life beyond what you can fathom (Jeremiah 29:11). This woman said she considered suicide after her husband of 33 years left her. Just think what would have happened if she had succumbed to that thought and killed herself. She wouldn’t have been there to save all these children from possible death. God bless this woman for staying strong in her adversity and being in the right place at the right time. She is a true hero.

I am so proud of this woman, a hero indeed, that was the power of God working through her. The prayers of the righteous availeth much! You have to pray for your enemies and love them. God said he would make your enemies your footstools and if you anchor yourself in the Lord like this woman was speaking about, He would even make your enemies be at peace with you. This was nothing but a miracle.

God is a righteous judge, and we must accept all of his decisions no matter who it effects. When my mother & father died this my grandmother told me those exact words.. At first it was hard for me too accept & understand those words, but I came around & accepted it.

I get your point but it’s not just “white” people. The mass shootings have involved white people with mental illness but there have been other incidents of black people with mental illness killing someone and then themselves.

If you don’t believe that God will move in your favor, this right here is proof. She mentioned that the seat she was in wasn’t even hers but she was seating in for a secretary. Imagine if that had been the other secretary, God placed her there for this exact reason. She said she was terrified and was praying, she even mentions what her pastor spoke on in church. Job well done to this lady, even with the pain she has in her life. May God continue to bless her!!!!!

Wow! That’s amazing!it wudnt even occur to me to talk to him.I would be looking for ways to knock him unconcious..I dunno, but no matter what your going through, to threaten or kill little kids???babies??that’s beyond wrong. Dunno if he really would have followed through with it but still..I don’t think there’s an excuse for that

WOW! Just WOW!! Thank you Jehovah God who is in the heavens for sparing all of their lives today. Not only was the Children and Staff lives saved… but this troubled young man’s life was spared as well. God is STILL in control.

you see if we humble ourselves and try identify with our fellow man a lot of good can be done. I thank God she changed his mind and no one harmed. he needed to hear her say that and he also needs ongoing treatment for his issues. life gets so hard for some, and depression can take you to a lot of evil places . we need to reach out those who are too scared and ashamed to ask for help. we could be saving our lives by doing that as well.

@patty you’re miserable. God allows certain things to happen bad or good for a bigger purpose. He has everyone life in his hands and already knows how things are going to plan out. what would you attribute this situation being ? Luck ?

Glory to GOD that no one was hurt. There are so many mentally unstable ppl in the world. You feel u don’t have anything to live for, so u walk into a school with attempts to end the lives of hundreds of innocent children? I’m a parent of a 6 yr ol and words can not describe how I feel when I hear or read stories such as this….random ppl coming into school with a mission to bear harm on the young and innocent. A parent should not fear dropping their child to school and children shouldn’t fear going to school bcuz of incidents such as this.

I will probably get a million thumbs down for this but I just have to say that I think people need to give themselves MORE credit. No matter how much GOD has influenced you – It’s still YOU. It was she who spoke out o f the kindness of her heart. She is the one who went through trials without giving up and it is her that is working hard to get in a better. Lets lean on god for strength but lets still realize that it’s not just god doing it but it’s the goodness of a person as well.!

As I read this post…I felt extremely sad, I hate to hear people say they have nothing to live for, it hurts me deeply because I wish I could be the person they talk to, most times people just want to be heard and validated. EVERYONE not just certain people with certain occupations. If we all took time, slow down and listen to people< I mean really listen..this world would be a much better place.

God blessed this woman with a spirit this kid felt he could be comfortable with and trust because if not he would have killed everyone in that school….WOW!!! Bless her.

God placed her in that seat so that she could handle that situation and prevent satin from taking more innocent lives.

I hate when people are like they have nothing to live for then go around killing people who lives haven’t really begun or people actually striving to make something out of themselves. Hopefully, while he is locked up he can find God. And the court system better not allow him to get a simple tap on the hand because of a plea of insanity.

Once again I’m sitting at work on **************** fighting tears – ain’t nobody got time for this lol. God is good though!
On a side note; mental illness is no joke…please support your loved ones and encourage them to seek help. aaand stay on them to be sure they’re on track. I know it’s easier to sweep this sort of thing under the rug because it’s so hard to deal with, but all things are possible through HIM. #prayedup

WOW she’s brave and very pretty. Thank God she was able to talk him out of hit. My heart can’t take another shooting like Sandy Hook. Its so disturbing that you’re no longer safe anywhere you go. Its sad that you can’t even send your kids to elementary school without worrying about some lunatic trying to shoot up the school or you can’t go out to the movies anymore without worrying about someone trying to shoot it up.

God Bless Ms. Antoinette Tuff for her heroism and faith in the Lord.
Also God Bless Michael Hill and the Mental Health community, you are all in our thoughts and prayers as we all know someone with mental health challenges and we do love you and want you go get better.
This story touches home for me and Special Love and prayers to my cousin who has mental health challenges, my biggest fear is that a story like this will be his.

Wow hearing her interview and the 911 call makes me teary eyed. She humanized him for himself. Let him know that is was not too late, that we all have issues and that he’s okay. She wasn’t talking him out out if like ” don’t do this, think of the kids” etc . Smart in that moment for his situation.

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